What's the most carried blade among "Operators"?

S

StuToffee

Joined
Feb 3, 2005
Messages
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When one considers that there are specialist teams from SF, Delta, SEALs, DevGru, USMC, Activity, CIA, NSA, 22SAS, 23SAS(TA), SBS, Special Reconaissance Regt, 18th (UKSF) Signal Regt, MI6 & numerous other US, UK (and coalition!) "Secret Squirrel" types running around in Iraq & Afghanistan, does anyone know what the most carried private purchase combat/survival blade is?
 
StuToffee said:
When one considers that there are specialist teams from SF, Delta, SEALs, DevGru, USMC, Activity, CIA, NSA, 22SAS, 23SAS(TA), SBS, Special Reconaissance Regt, 18th (UKSF) Signal Regt, MI6 & numerous other US, UK (and coalition!) "Secret Squirrel" types running around in Iraq & Afghanistan, does anyone know what the most carried private purchase combat/survival blade is?
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Different militaries from different countries like different blades and then civilians don’t like to carry gear that looks like military gear, so I would bet some would have only what the local population has and the rest has whatever is popular with their branch, a few have some outstanding knives donated from knife makers on this board.
 
Dark Ops.

Do I win a prize?:D

Who cares what "operators" use? One can bet the vast majority of operators do nothing with their blades more strenuous than anything we forum members do.
 
probably the cheapest thing that they can readily buy. for the US is probably coldsteel srk/recon tanto or a kabar. the UK guys dunno.
 
Im sure youre right. Its a fair bet that most of the knives carried are used for opening cans, boxes, and other "everyday" tasks. I was just curious as to whether or not there was a particular favourite among the sneaky-beaky types.
 
Probably a multi-tool. Even "Operators" have times when they need a tool and not a super-secret ninja sword.
 
I read somewhere in a knife magazine (forgot which one) that the preferred knife of choice of a former Navy SEAL was a simple SAK, because he could use the scissors to open up MREs without leaking any juices.
 
Friend of mine who is an ex-ranger carries a BM 940 now. I think he had it with him when he was...wherever he was for the last couple years too.
 
One friend that has done two tours in Iraq in SPEC-OPS carried.

Gerber Applegate/Fairbain Combat folder
Gerber Mini-Covert
Ka-Bar Dozier Folder
Victorinox SAK

For the most part, his observation was that people that showed up wearing big 7 inch+ bladed knives, ended up leaving them in camp more often than not because they were to big and heavy considering all the other equipment you had to carry.
 
I would be amazed if any two of them carried the same knife, let alone any two units tended towards the same knife. In fact, utility would suggest that many different knives within the unit would be best: someone would have the right knife for whatever odd job came up.

Since these guys do not make six-figure salaries, they probably buy knives on base, which limits them to the knives sold there, not generally the latest and greatest. Seeing a lot of SRKs, for example, doesn't mean the SRK is best, only best available.
 
The term 'Operator' is specific to Delta. British Special Forces carry very ordinary knives, often just the standard bayonet. You might be surprised but many don't carry a 'real' knife at all just something like a Leatherman.
The U.S. SF guys I've met were generally much more knive savvy but even they used run of the mill stuff, there were exceptions such as Randall and Brend. Hope this is of some interest.
 
I don't know about "operators", but I've know a few SF Soldiers back in the early 90's.
It seems like most of them carried Spyderco Enduras or Buck 110's.

Good luck,
Allen.
 
Thanks for the comments. A former SAS officer I spoke to a good while ago indicated that multi-tools were popular in their ranks, and that generally, people carrying "combat" knives were usually treated with some disdain as, to paraphrase the SAS guy ,"Why would you want to get THAT close to the enemy" LOL
 
The preferred GD knife of the Brit SAS and SBS is the Puma AutoMesser - a wooden handled version of the WhiteHunter - it was the issue survival knife for modern day German pilots until Puma lost the contract. The same model is now supplied to Luftwaffe by Rudolf Weber who also makes the similar rubber handled version known as SEK supplied to German Special Forces such as GS9
Fairburn Sykes daggers are not popular - Bravo Two Zero is full of bull....
Russian Spetsnaz forces are issued with Kizlyar knives like the Phoenix model with 16cm blades - a nice knife too.
A US SEAL told me once they prefer to carry cheap divers knives such as SpecPlus Mk2s or similar lower grade - he reasoned they aren't paid enough to lose expensive gear in the ocean!

Scrutiny of pics from ops in Afghanistan shows that where operatives there such as CIA were carrying knives shows them mainly to be KaBar style.
 
I'm writing a book with a former Aussie SAS trooper and have got to know a few of his mates in the last couple of years. They've got no different knife using patterns that any other outdoorsmen. Multi-tools and SAK's are standard. Some carry spydercos and CKRT's. Large fixed blades are only carried if the operation requires it - like machetes in SE Asian jungle etc.
 
StuToffee said:
people carrying "combat" knives were usually treated with some disdain as, to paraphrase the SAS guy ,"Why would you want to get THAT close to the enemy" LOL
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What if they were forced into the situation, and needed a silent kill? A silencer would still be too loud for close proximities.
 
Buzzbait said:
Probably a multi-tool. Even "Operators" have times when they need a tool and not a super-secret ninja sword.
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You mean you don't carry your ninja sword with you everywhere you go?
 
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